Resilient cushion



April 30, 1929. E, A wEmMAN ET AL 1,711,255

RESILIENT CUSHION Filed June 9, 1926 sfr c' ,W www@ ATTORNEY ciallyresilient Parenteel Apr. 3o, 1929.

UNlED STATES EIR-'WIN A.. WEINMAN AND ROBERT C. BEACH,

F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

RESILIENT CUSHION.

Application nled June 9, 1926. Serial No. 114,763.

@ur invention relates to improvements in resilient pneumatic cushionsand the object of our improvement is and e-licient pneumatic cushionthat is espeand that is very durable in construction.

Another object is to provide a resilient pneumatic cushion whichutilizes both the elasticity of rubber and the resiliency of an' to giveresiliency and elasticity to the cushion, said cushion comprising rubberair containers drawn tightly across a rigid frame and unsupported exceptat their ends.

A. further object` is to providey a cushion in which the air containersthat are stretched across the cushion frame are drawn over an inated airb'ag or tube that rests upon and extends along the front edge of thecushion thus providing means for varying the tension of the other airtubes and Jfurther providing an easy and comfortable roll at the frontedge of the cushion that affords extra resiliency and elasticity.

A further object is to provide a cushion embodying a plurality ofelastic tubes stretched from front to rear of the cushion across a rigidframe and arranged so that a person on one portion, as at one end, of arelatively long cushion, will not cause, the other end of the cushion tobulge or raise up.

A- urther object is to provide aI cushion in which the rubber tubes thatform the seat portion are supported at both ends by releasable means sothat said tubes may be easily released and drawn outwardly through thebottom of the cushion frame Jfor the purpose of repair or replacementwithout removing the padding and upholstery on the top ot the cushion.

Further objects are to provide a 'frame structure of eiicientconstruction having novel means for supporting the-tubes at both thefront and rear edge of the cushion.

Other and more specific objects will 'be apparent from the followingdescription and accompanying drawings.

ln the drawings Fig. 1, is a plan view, with all coverings removed, of acushion constructed in accordance with our invention.

Fig. 2, is a view in cross section ot the same on line 2-2 of Fig. 1,the padding being shown on the cushion and a position that certain airtubes may assume when withdrawn for repair being shown by dotted lines.

Fig. 3, is a fragmentary view in perspecto provide a simple andcomfortable to siton tive of one corner ot the cushion frame and supportfor the tubes.

f Fig. 4, is a fragmentary sectional perspective view of a moditied formof cushion member using an air sack for a seat portion instead of aplurality of tubes.

Fig. 5, is a fragmentary sectional view of a modification of theinvention.

Like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the severalviews.

The drawings show a single cushion of short length, it being understoodthat the longer cushions are similarly made.

Figs. 1 to 3 show a cushion embodying a rigid rectangular frame providedat its rear edge at the two ends, with upwardly extending brackets 11having arcuate recesses 12 in their upper ends for the receptionof atubular support or rod 13 that eX- tends longitudinally of the rear edgeof the cushion .trarne and is spaced above the rear member of the trame10.

A. support 14 of the cross sectional shape shown in Fig. 2 is providedat the front edge of the fra-me, said support having a vertical rearwall 15, the ends of which rest in notches 16 in the side bars of theframe 10, and said support having an inclined top wall 17 on which apneumatic tube 18 that 4 extends along the front edge of the cushion mayrest. rlhe support 14 is provided at each end on its front edge with arearwardly extending notch 20 arranged to slip over a stud screw or bolt21 that extends upwardly from the frame, the diameter of the head of thestud screw 21 being Igreater than the width of the notch 20 and the studscrew serving to hold the support in place.

A plurality of pneumatic tubes 22 extend crosswise of the cushion fromfront to rear in side by side relation. The rear ends of these tubes aresecurely clamped between the rear member of the frame 10 and a metalclamp bar 23 that is secured to the rear frame member by bolts 24. Thetubes 22 extend upwardly over the rear of the support 13. thenceforwardly across the cushion frame, thence downwardly over t-he tube 18thence under the front support 14 and are securely clamped between thefront member ot' the frame 10 by a metal clamp member 25 thatl issecured to said front frame member by bolts 26.

The tubes may be protected by coverings or chang strips as follows. Acovering 27 on t-he rearsupport 13, 'a ohafing strip or reinforcement28, preferably cemented to the rear ends of the tubes 22 and interposedbetween said rear ends of said tubes 22 and the. clamp bar 23 andextending upwardly over the rear support 13. a covering 30 on the frontsupport 14 and a ehafinzgsr strip or coveringv 3l interposed between thetubes 22 and the clamp bar 25 and extending between the tubes 22 and thebottom and 'front edge oi the. front support- 111-.

'lhe reinforcement :28 that is secured to the rear ends ot' the tubes issubstantially non-elastie thereb)Y preventing those portions of thetubes between the supporting rod 13 and clamp bar 23 from stretchingand,

consequently preventinga chaing on the rod 18 Suitable padding 32 andupholstering' 38 may be drawn over the top of the tubes 22 and securedto the sides of the frame 10 and a removable bottom member 3d may besecured to the frame.

Each tube 22 is provided with an air valve 35 by which it mav beiniiated and the front tube 18 has an air valve 36 that entends throughthe front support 14;.

rllhel front tube 18 is an important feature, in that it forms for thecushion and serres as a means ost regulating' or adjusting the tensionoit the other tubes 22, it being obvious that the tension ot the tubes22 may he increased or decreased by increasing or decreasinga the presnsure in the. front tube 18.

Another important feature ot the invention resides in the means forsupporting the pneumatic tubes in such a manner that said tubes may bedrawn outwardly through .the bot-tom of the traine 10 as shown by dottedlines in Fig. 2 for repair or replacement. To thus expose the tubes itis first necessary to defiate the front tube 18, after which, the rearsupporting rod 13 may be removed and the front support ltmay be firstraised up clear of notches 16, then drawn rearwardly to disengage thesame from stud screws 21 and then removed entirely from the cushionleaving the tubes 22 free to hang down out ot the cushion as shown bydotted lines in Fig. 2, where they may be conveniently patched orrepaired. The front tube 18 is entirely removed with the front support14. The nuts of the clamp bolts are all on the inside so thatl the endsof the tubes 22 may be easily unclamped for replacement ot tubes. Thetubes and parts ot the frame are easily put back. the front tube 18being inflated after it. is replaced and serving to put the other tubes22 under tension.

Another important feature of the invention is that the tubes 22 areunder tension and also iniiated and are unsupported except at theends'thus giving' the resiliency due to both the elasticity of therubber and the elasticity or resiliency of the air.

a satisfactory iront edge 'd 1n a. long' cushion for supporting morethan one person the. use of a'plurality of separate tubes 22 extendingfrom front to rear has a substantial advantage over the use ot' a singleair sack duc to the tact that it materially reduces the tendency of thcWeight of a person on one part of the cushion to bulge other parts ofthe cushion whereon other persons may sit, it being1 apparent that theweight ot' each occu ant ot' the cushion is supported entirely on t losetubes on .vliieh he sits and does not aiiect the other tubes, whereas inthe case of a,

single air bag or, sack pressure in one place toi-ees the air to anotherplace and may bulge the cushion.

Fig. d, shows an alternative form oit cushion which is the same as thepreviously described cushion except that the tubes 22 are replaced by apneumatic bag; d0 that is stretched from iront to rear of the cushiontrame over a front tube 41 that, corresponds to the front tube 18.

Fig. 5, shows an alternative construction ot both the front and rearbrackets or supports. Irlhe tront bracket 412 bein of sub stantially'the shape shown., and haring ownwardly extending clips` or portions istthat tit over the ends of clamp bolts lfd and are secured by nuts ad.The rear cross member is made up of two parts d5 and iti and the ends ottubes d? that corres` ond to the tubes 22 are clamped by bolts 118etween said two parts. Said rear cross member formed of parts t5 and 46is removably supported at the ends by brackets 4:9 that are rigid with atrame 50.

The foregoing description and accom anying drawings clearly disclose apreti@ embodiment of our invention but it Wilt be understood that thisdisclosure is merely illustrative and that many changes in the cushionmay be made within spirit of the following claims..

e claim:

1. In a pneumatic cushion a. frame a'ording an edge support ofsubstantial Width and having a center which is unobstructed in the areaof movement of the cushion seat, a plurality of elastic seat tubessecured at opposite ends to the frame so as to extend across said frameloosely either when iniated or non-inflated and unsupported from belowexcept adjacent their ends and a pneumatic tube extending longitudinallyalong said edge support beneath said seat tubes and resting throughoutthe greater portion as shown in Fig.. 1,

Cfl

erred the scope and oit its width on said edge support and casaid frame7a support resting on, and extendminets ing lengthwise along the irontedge of said frame, an air tight elastic tube, capable of inflation,resting on said front support, clamp bars bolted to the inner sides ofthe front and rear frame members respectively and a plurality of airtight elastic tubes capable of inflatlon having their ends securelyclamped by said clamp bars, said tubes being drawn tightly across saidframe over said rear rod and over said front elastic tube. r

3. lin a cushion of the class described, a

rectangular frame, upright brackets secured.

to the rearv corners of said frame, a rod removably supported in saidbrackets, a removable supporting member resting on7 and extending alongthe front edge ci? said frame, said supporting member having a verticalrear Wall and having a rearwardly extending notch. in its front edgenear each end, a stud screw in the frame near each front corner overwhich the corresponding notch in the front support :may tit, said tramebeing notched at the sides 'or the reception oi`-tl1ose portions of saidvertical rear Wall near the ends, an inated elastic tube resting on saidfront support and a plu'- rality of inated elastic tubes drawn acrosssaid trame under tension over said rear rod and over said first namedvinflated. tube.

The foregoing specication signed at Seattle, Washington, this 13th dayof May, 1926.

nnwin A. WEEIKNMAN. nonnn'r Ilc. Benen.

